By Lori EhdeConnell Car Care, on East Main Street and Blue Mound Avenue, Luverne, will throw a big party Friday. They’re calling it "Customer Appreciation Day," but the occasion will also mark an official retirement and change of ownership.Dave Connell and his son, Terry, have been working together at the business since 1990 and as partners since 1996.Long history of Connells in car careFriday will mark Dave’s official retirement after 43 years in the car business. He used a full-page advertisement in Sunday’s Announcer to thank his employees and customers."The success of my business is a direct result of the loyal employees I have had over the years," he wrote. "I am very grateful to them."He specifically mentioned long-time workers John Van Dam and Bob DeSplinter.Dave found himself deep in Connell Car Care history as he prepared for retirement. "As I go through my customer list, many of the names are long-time customers of the Connells," he said. The list includes customers of his father, Hugh, and uncle, Keith, and grandfather, Esmond, whose wife, Louise, may actually be credited with a car business connection dating to the late 1800s.Her father, Dave’s great-grandfather Bierkamp, was with Home Automobile Company in Luverne prior to the turn of the century. That white building stood on the corner of McKenzie and Lincoln streets where the Klosterbuer and Haubrich law office is now located.Dave joined Connell Chevrolet as a technician in 1962 and his cousin, Pat Connell (now at Papik Motors), joined in 1972.The dealership was sold to Warren Schoon in 1982, and at that time Dave purchased Davis Motors and started Connell Car Care."Donna and I would like to thank all our customers and friends who have supported us over the last 40 years in Luverne," he said in Sunday’s Announcer. "Your loyalty and support are very much appreciated."New owner at the helmFriday’s party will also mark the official transition of Connell Car Care ownership to Terry Connell, who said he can’t remember a time when his hands didn’t have grease on them."I can remember being five or six years old and tearing apart my new bike," he said about tinkering being in his blood. "I took every bolt I could find out of that thing, and my dad was so mad. It was completely torn apart."It wasn’t long before his dad started channeling some of that natural ability, and Terry started working in the shop at 13 years old. "I fell in love with the business and still love it today," Terry said in the Announcer. "I have learned a lot along the way and still hold Dad’s opinions and point of view in high regard."Dave will still do some purchasing for the business, but he and Donna are selling their house in Sioux Falls and will live in northern Minnesota."The customers won’t notice much difference, but I just won’t have him to fall back on as much anymore," Terry said.He said the transition has been underway for several months, and master technician and service manager Greg VandeVelde will have added responsibilities."He’s got really good car knowledge," Terry said. "He’s been repairing cars for 20 years and he definitely fills the shoes for service manager real well."Terry said he doesn’t have plans for sweeping changes at the business but said it’s an important goal just to stay ahead of technology."Cars themselves are getting very high-tech," he said, "and I’m going to work hard to make sure that we’re up to date to handle any car in Luverne. We’ve always tried to be on the leading edge of independent shops in Luverne, and I plan to keep doing that."The open house lunch Friday will start at 11 a.m. and continue until the food is gone.